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Settlement conference set in Winfield lawsuit

A federal judge has scheduled a settlement conference in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city of Vicksburg and Mayor Paul Winfield.

A court filing says the settlement conference is scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Natchez.

The lawsuit was filed Feb. 1, 2012, by former city employee Kenya Burks.

It alleges that Burks and Winfield had a consensual sexual relationship, but ended it when he became "physically abusive."

The suit says Winfield continued to make unwanted advances and offered to pay Burks overtime she didn't earn. Burks says Winfield retaliated when he was rejected by eliminating her position as chief of staff.

Winfield has denied the allegations.

Winfield was indicted Feb. 20 in an unrelated federal bribery charge accusing him of seeking $10,000 for a city contract.

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